The confidence to stand

Posted: Wed, Aug 27 2008, 2:18 am Post subject: the confidence to stand

My year old son is VERY stable on his feet, very strong, and has good balance. He's been cruising for almost 8 months now (started at 4 mos). He stands without holding on here and there and does it well, but then realizes what he's doing and plops down on his tush. How can I encourage him to stand, to give him the confidence to do what I know he is capable of?

PS. Please no comments about how I shouldnt be rushing him, that its normal, etc... I'm not rushing him and he can walk when he's ready. I'm just wondering if there are things I can do that will encourage him and will give him confidence to stand alone.
_________________
www.IsraelGlutenFree.com - Cheap gluten free flours and flour mixes
www.PennilessParenting.com -Extreme frugality
www.Chaschanit.com
http://UnschoolingTorah.Blogspot.com

~Complimentary ad for being a mod

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 20 2006 Posts: 5705

First of all a walker can help. Leaving furniture items near each other - like a chair near a couch where he is, so he might get it in him to take the step. Walking holding hands with him. When he is standing, hold an object that he might want, to encourage him to let go. Just make sure it's done in a way that is not frustrating for him.
And of course he will do it all when he is ready.

Posted: Wed, Aug 27 2008, 3:39 am Post subject: re: the confidence to stand

By standing in front of him and making him walk towards you. Keep your hands stretched out and about a foot in front of him so he can "fall" on them if necessary. And when he reaches you (keep moving backwards for a few feet of walking) give him a big hug and kiss for encouragement, and a smile!
_________________
"Olam Chessed Yiboneh", Tehilim 89.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20496

What Friedasima wrote, but on the grass or some other soft surface. These floors are very hard. I used to do that on the carpet in the U.S.

Posted: Wed, Aug 27 2008, 2:56 pm Post subject: re: the confidence to stand

Agreed in full. We had a carpet in the kids room winter and summer when they were little which absorbed the falls so I really didn't think about it...

Posted: Thu, Aug 28 2008, 3:54 pm Post subject:

We have carpet for the winter and one of thòse spongey mats for now. DS loves to walk around using his bimba just like his big sis did. Also make sure to keep anything that will topple from his weight away so too many unnecessary falls don't discourage. I hold onto the front of the car or have dd sit on it so he can't flip it over, although he's super talented and figures out a way to bump n bruise anyway! Smile

They figure it out eventually.

DD cruised FOREVER and we could see she could do it but she needed motivation. Dh got her to walk by holding a chip (or was it a crisp, whatever!) in front of her like a carrot for a pony (lhavdil). hysterical and B"H on video.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 26 2007 Posts: 1223

DS cruised for months! He owuld walk holding on to my pinky and it was purely confidence. I was not helping him balance at all. Two weeks before he turned 1, he walked across the room and then wouldn't do it again. A week later dh and I sat down on the floor facing each other, as if we were going to roll a ball back and forth...we gave ds a pen and I said give it to Tatty. He wobbled over and dh said give it to mommy. Back and forth just building his confidence that he oculd take those 5 or 6 steps without holding our hands.

After that he was great.

DD1 never had an issue with confidence.

DD2 is a mover. At 7 months she was trying to get up the stairs. She started doing 5 steps plop about a month and a half ago and now is walking most of the time, but still very wobbly.
_________________
SR
ds-6, 8 Iyar 5764
dd- 5, 6 Kislev 5766
dd- 3, 18 Elul 5767
ds-9 months, 23 Adar 5770